Dairy Dialog podcast 161: BENEO, FAIRR on COP26, GNT

01-Dec-2021 - Last updated on 01-Dec-2021 at 12:03 GMT

This week, we feature interviews with two companies involved with the upcoming FiE event. We have conversations with Rudy Wouters, head of the BENEO Technology Center and Myriam Snaet, head of market intelligence and consumer insights at BENEO; and Maartje Hendrickx, market development manager at GNT Group.

We also chatted with FAIRR policy director, Dr Helena Wright, who gave us an overview of COP26.

FAIRR on COP26

In October, FAIRR published ‘Appetite for Disruption: The Last Serving’, which assesses how 25 food companies are responding to the rise of alternative proteins. FAIRR is a $40tn-inverstor-backed organization tackling some of the biggest global issues.

In December, it published the fourth edition of the Coller FAIRR Protein Producer Index, which

assesses 60 of the largest, listed global meat, dairy and aquaculture companies on 10 environmental, social and governance themes aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Index is designed to provide financial institutions with best-in-class data, analytics and trends on the protein sector to integrate into their investment decisions and engagement strategies.

The organization was also involved in the recent COP26 discussions in Glasgow, Scotland, and Dairy Reporter took the opportunity to speak about the group’s impressions of the success of the event.

Fi Europe and Hi Europe 2021: Spotlight on innovative ingredient offerings

There are plenty of dairy-related companies taking part in FiE Europe and HiE in Frankfurt, Germany, this week. The Fi Global team is currently expecting a total of 17,000 visitors in-person and/or virtually, as well as more than 800 exhibitors.

The agenda for the show, with Fi Conference, Innovation Hub, various theatres and the competitions Startup Innovation Challenge and Innovation Awards, will also address topics such as upcycling, alternative sourcing solutions and more efficient manufacturing processes. Sessions include ‘Creating a more sustainable future’, in which Siska Pottie, Secretary General of the European Alliance for Plant-based Foods, will be reviewing the European plant-based market.

Also speaking is Paula Schmidsfelden, of The Carbon Trust, who will be discussing ‘Product carbon footprinting & labelling: How to drive decarbonisation in the food industry’. Roquette, meanwhile, will be presenting a company case study on ‘Adapting to rising consumer expectations with a plant-based approach’.

BENEO survey shows positive ageing driving demand for healthier nutrition

New research, conducted on behalf of BENEO, reveals consumers are now even more focused on ‘positive’ ageing. The research, carried out by HealthFocus International, includes an exclusive analysis of the health-conscious 50+ age range.

The Global Trends Study, Q1 2020, featured respondents in 22 countries, and included 12,336 interviews (with a minimum of 500 per country). The identified group of consumers aged 50+ had no children living at home, and showed a specific concern about healthy ageing.

It showed those aged over 50 want to be able to continue with the activities they enjoy and are increasingly looking to food and drink alternatives to support this goal.

Getting the best out of the present and the future is what drives health-conscious over-50s. They want to be the best version of themselves that they can be in every life-stage. This means taking control over future health, whilst being fit and healthy enough to enjoy the present, and nutrition plays a significant part in achieving this for them.

For those over-50s concerned about the issue of healthy ageing, 79% are primarily focused on maintaining their ability to continue with activities as they age. A similar number, 76%, see good physical and mental health and a balanced diet as key to overall health. In particular, the importance of nutrition is reflected by the survey results: 42% think a healthy diet helps to coping better with life's challenges; 74% are making a conscious effort to eat a healthy diet, while 56% choose food and drink products that provide protective or preventive health benefits.

The research findings also show offering “better nutrition” is one of the top influencing factors to consumers trying a new brand (68%), presenting food and drink manufacturers with an opportunity to drive purchases by improving the nutrition of their products.

With regard to health benefits, 60% agree they “accept scientific and technical improvements to foods and beverages if they provide the required benefits.” Although only between 10-20% of these health-conscious over-50s are personally affected by digestive health, bone health or blood glucose issues, half of those surveyed are ‘very or extremely concerned’ about such matters. These consumers are actively looking for food and beverage products that support their aim of staying healthy for longer, with more than half choosing products promoting stronger bones, improving digestion or managing blood sugar levels.

Myriam Snaet, head of market intelligence and consumer insights at BENEO, said, “Today’s over-50s want to be their best self. They want to be proactive in managing their health and want to live their life to the fullest, no matter the life-stage they are in. Being well aware that food choices have an effect on overall health, they are looking for food and drink products that offer additional health support, such as lowering blood glucose levels or improving digestive health.

“Manufacturers can help them achieve these goals by developing products that tap into these specific health benefits through the use of BENEO’s functional ingredients, including the slow-release sugar, Palatinose and prebiotic chicory root fibres oligofructose and inulin, that can easily fit into their daily routines without compromising on taste.”

Steve Walton, president at HealthFocus International, added, “People are taking charge of their health and making serious changes. While some of these new eating patterns and nutritional adjustments happened due to Covid-19, we expect many of them to be long-lasting. We’ve seen a real shift over the past 10 years and now, healthy ageing and the quality of life it can give are top of mind today. Consumers are adopting a long-term approach to health maintenance, which highlights that healthy ageing is relevant for every age. A fact that food and drink manufacturers can use to their advantage when looking at new product development.”

For producers looking to make the most of the increasing consumer desire to manage their blood glucose, bone health and digestive health, BENEO said its products offer solutions backed by science. A person’s blood glucose levels are a key way to help promote long-term health, and this is why choosing the right carbohydrate is so important.

BENEO’s Palatinose (isomaltulose) is a slow-release sugar occurring naturally in honey and is derived from sugar naturally extracted from sugar beets. It is unique in its ability to deliver a lower rise in blood glucose, whilst providing full carbohydrate energy. It supplies the body with 4 kcal/g and contributes to daily energy intake from carbohydrates, thus making it an ideal ingredient to help support blood sugar management.

When it comes to digestive health, gut friendly foods - such as prebiotics - can help with nourishing the microbiota as a person gets older. BENEO’s prebiotic chicory root fibers oligofructose and inulin play a role in selectively promoting the growth of good bacteria and this in turn supports a person’s inner defence system. Inulin and oligofructose are the only proven plant-based prebiotics. Orafti Inulin and Oligofructose have been shown to support a healthy microbiota and the selective increase in bifidobacteria in morethan 50 human intervention studies and an increase in stool frequency in 20 human intervention studies.

EXBERRY Coloring Foods supplier GNT unveils Power of Color research

GNT has launched research it says empowers food and beverage brands to devise tailor-made solutions for the modern market.

The growth of the personalization and customization trends is fueling demand for products appealing to shoppers on a deeper level. GNT has developed ‘The Power of Color’ to help brands create coloring solutions to connect with their target consumers.

The research combines consumer psychology and semiotics to deliver unique insights into how color generates meaning across products, brands, and categories, enabling manufacturers to create powerful stories and stand out in their category.

Maartje Hendrickx, market development manager at GNT, said, “It’s clear that a one-size-fits-all approach to color is rapidly becoming outdated. As a service provider, innovation has always been in our DNA and this trailblazing project enables us to help customers find the cutting-edge coloring solutions they need to strengthen their market position and reach new audiences.”

Created alongside professional semioticians, The Power of Color explores the many ways in which color sends out messages on a conscious and subconscious level.

For an inside-out perspective, it uses psychology to explore consumer motivations. It examines the tensions that drive product and brand choices, such as the desire for pleasurable yet permissible food and drink.

The second phase uses semiotics to provide an outside-in perspective, showing how color can help to deliver on these motivations and needs.

Color codes and cues create a variety of meanings across different cultures, categories, and situations. For example, color can indicate how to navigate situations and guide decision-making, as in the case of food nutrition labels. It can also signal personal identity, whether through fashion, cosmetics, or even food and drink. Colors evoke moods and emotions, too – red is seen as an energizing shade, for instance, while yellow is associated with joy.

Together, these two perspectives allow brands to build a comprehensive understanding of how color can be used to cater to different consumer needs and create a compelling narrative.

Jill Janssen, GNT’s Power of Color lead, said, “Color can send out any number of messages about brands and products. It might signal a moment of blissful escapism, tell stories about origins and process, showcase powerful ingredients, or help to highlight healthy formulations. The Power of Color helps brands think about color in a new way, delving deeper than ever before into its cultural power while also exploring the psychology behind color trends.”